Across the country, doctors like Sullivan are facing a spike in psychiatric emergencies - attempted suicide, severe depression, psychosis - as states slash mental health services and the country's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression takes its toll.

"These are people without a previous psychiatric history who are coming in and telling us they've lost their jobs, they've lost sometimes their homes, they can't provide for their families, and they are becoming severely depressed," said Dr. Felicia Smith, director of the acute psychiatric service at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

This happens:

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The man believed to have killed six relatives and then himself on Christmas Day was dressed as Santa Claus, police said Monday. The shooter "showed up shortly before the incident took place" in the Santa outfit and was a member of the family opening gifts in the apartment, said Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling. The victims' ages were 15, 19, 22, 55, 56, 58 and 59, said Grapevine police Lt. Todd Dearing. The victims in their 50s were two couples.

We really need to get a grip on what's important in our lives, not just as individuals, but as a society. Is making a buck more important than a healthy population? Apparently so, and we're going to reap the whirlwind for this myopic view of life.

We have cut services for mental health and people have lost bennies aso these things go untreated which then leads to these horrific things. Of course it is wrong but when your brain is not working right bad things can happen. People tend to dismiss mental illness.They think can control it. Well if that is the case then when your leg is broke all you have to do is try real hard and you can walk on it right? That is what a lot of people do not realize that when the brain is "broke" is not thinking clearly.

On cause and affect I do believe this economy with people losing everything along with major depression and no insurance to get help that peole snap. The price of everything has gone through the roof. Well paying jobs are not available everywhere and those that have bennies are fewer. We can expect to see a lot more of this I think.

When it comes to financial security, you can be dependant on someone else for the money. That is not so upsetting. Seeing as how there is only a ten percent unemployment rate in the u.s. they will all have a relative to look aftr them. What is another plate on the table costing them?

This is immature - they see things they want and gripe about it not being within their grasp. Then they kill themselves. Have I put it into perspective?